Eyewear with a pair of light emitting diode matrices

ABSTRACT

An eyewear with a pair of light emitting diodes (LED) matrices is an apparatus that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the eyewear by illuminating different patterns and letterings with the pair of LED matrices. A left lens and a right lens each have an LED matrix, which traverse through and protrude out of their respective lens. Both LED matrices are electronically connected to a programmable microcontroller, which is able to turn on/off each individual LED in order to create the patterns and letterings on the LED matrices. The microphone and VU meter also allows the LED matrices to display patterns and lettering that relate to the music or sounds around the apparatus. Each individual LED for both LED matrices are properly spaced apart from each other so that visibility is not significantly reduced while wearing the apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an eyewear with an aestheticdisplay of light emitting diodes on each lens. More specifically, thepresent invention can be used to illuminate different patterns andletterings with the light emitting diodes on each lens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, sunglasses had been used as a fashion accessory in orderenhance a user's appearance in addition to protecting the user's eyesfrom high-energy visible light. Sunglasses limits the user's visibilitywith each lens in order to prevent damage to the user's eyes.Consequently, any other decorations or other add-ons that could beattached to the lenses of the sunglasses for aesthetic appeal would onlyfurther limit the user's visibility. Therefore, the objective of thepresent invention is to provide eyewear with an aesthetic display of alight emitting diode matrix on each lens. The objective of the presentis to also provide the eyewear with the ability to illuminate differentpatterns and letterings with the light emitting diode matrices in orderto further enhance the aesthetic appeal of the sunglasses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the present invention without theelectronic components.

FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the present invention highlightingthe visibility diminishing volume without the electronic components.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of the electronic components of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is an eyewearwith a pair of light emitting diode (LED) matrices, which are used toenhance the aesthetic display of the eyewear. The present invention isdesigned to be wore by a user at dark social events such as at a raveparty or used at a dark night club. The present invention can be used tolight up and display different patterns and letterings on the eyewear.The present invention mainly comprises an eyewear body 1, a left lens 5,a right lens 6, a left LED matrix 7, a right LED matrix 8, a pluralityof left matrix holes 9, a plurality of right matrix holes 10, aprogrammable microcontroller 11, an integrated circuit (IC) pin socket,a micro slide switch 12, and a portable power source 14. In reference toFIG. 3, the eyewear body 1 is used to hold the present invention againstthe user's face. For example, the eyewear body 1 is the structure thatis used to hold prescription glasses or sunglasses against a user'sface. The eyewear body 1 comprises a lens frame 2, a left temple 3, anda right temple 4. The lens frame 2 is used to support the left lens 5and the right lens 6 and braces the present invention against the bridgeof the user's nose. The left temple 3 is hinged adjacent to the leftside of the lens frame 2 and is used to brace the present inventionagainst the user's left ear. The right temple 4 is hinged adjacent tothe right side of the lens frame 2 and is positioned opposite of theleft temple 3. The right temple 4 is used to brace the present inventionagainst the user's right ear. In order for the user to wear the presentinvention, the left temple 3 and the right temple 4 need to beperpendicularly positioned to the lens frame 2.

The left lens 5 and the right lens 6 are typically used to protect theuser's eyes from high-energy visible light. For example, the presentinvention could be used to protect the user's eyes from laser lightshows or intense projected images, which are displayed at rave parties.The left lens 5 and the right lens 6 are positioned within and attachedto the lens frame 2. The plurality of left matrix holes 9 traversesthrough the left lens 5 and are designed to receive the left LED matrix7. The left LED matrix 7 is positioned within the plurality of leftmatrix holes 9 and is adhered or connected in some way to the left lens5. Similarly, the plurality of right matrix holes 10 traverses throughthe right lens 6 and are designed to receive the right LED matrix 8. Theright LED matrix 8 is positioned within the plurality of right matrixholes 10 and is adhered or connected in some way to the right lens 6.Each individual LED for the left LED matrix 7 and for the right LEDmatrix 8 should respectively protrude through the left lens 5 and theright lens 6 so that the light from each individual LED is partiallyblocked by the left lens 5 and the right lens 6 from the user's eyes andcan be clearly seen by other people around the user. In addition, theplurality of left matrix holes 9 should be properly spaced apart fromeach other so that the user can see through the left LED matrix 7 on theleft lens 5. Likewise, the plurality of right matrix holes 10 should beproperly spaced apart from each other so that the user can see throughthe right LED matrix 8 on the right lens 6.

The programmable microcontroller 11 allows the present invention tomanage and control all of the electronic components of the presentinvention and is shown in FIG. 5. The left LED matrix 7 and the rightLED matrix 8 are electronically connected to the programmablemicrocontroller 11, which allows the present invention control eachindividual LED on the left LED matrix 7 and the right LED matrix 8 byturning them on and off. The programmable microcontroller 11 can turn onor off each individual LED of the left LED matrix 7 in order to displaya particular pattern or lettering across the left LED matrix 7.Similarly, the programmable microcontroller 11 can turn on or off eachindividual LED of the right LED matrix 8 in order to display aparticular pattern or lettering across the right LED matrix 8. The leftLED matrix 7 and the right LED matrix 8 are electronically connected toeach other so that a particular pattern or lettering can be harmoniouslydisplayed across both the left LED matrix 7 and the right LED matrix 8.In one embodiment of the present invention, the programmablemicrocontroller 11 could use a protective base to electronically connectto the other components. For example, one kind of protective base is anintegrated circuit (IC) pin socket, which would allow the programmablecontroller to electronically connect to other components withoutdamaging its pins.

The programmable microcontroller 11, the left LED matrix 7, the rightLED matrix 8, and the other electronic components are electricallypowered by the portable power source 14 such as a battery. In thepreferred embodiment of the present invention, the portable power source14 is specifically a button battery because of the size constraints ofthe present invention on the user's face. The portable power source 14is electrically connected in series with the micro slide switch 12,which is used to turn the electronic components of the present inventionon and off. The portable power source 14 and the micro slide switch 12is electrically connected to the programmable microcontroller 11 so thatthe user can break the circuit to turn off the electronic components andcan complete the circuit to turn on the electronic components. Theprogrammable microcontroller 11 is able to distribute the electricalpower from the portable power source 14 to all of the other electroniccomponents.

The other electronic components of the present invention are the inputjack 13, the volume unit (VU) meter 15, and the microphone 16. The inputjack 13 is electronically connected to the programmable microcontroller11 and allows the user to input computer executable instructions intothe programmable microcontroller 11. The programmable microcontroller 11can receive the computer executable instructions in a number ofdifferent computer languages such as “BASIC” and “C”. The computerexecutable instructions are used to program the pattern or letteringthat will be displayed by the left LED matrix 7 and/or the right LEDmatrix 8. The input jack 13 would also allow connectivity between thepresent invention and a smart-phone or different portable computingdevice such as a tablet personal computer or a laptop. The microphone 16is used to pick up sound or music pulses around the present invention.For example, the microphone 16 would pick up the music playing at a raveparty. The microphone 16 electronically connected to programmablecontroller so that the left LED matrix 7 and the right LED matrix 8could display a pattern or a lettering that reacts to the sound or musicpulses around the present invention. The VU meter 15 is used pick up thesound level around the present invention. The VU meter 15 is alsoelectronically connected to the programmable microcontroller 11 so thatthe left LED matrix 7 and the right LED matrix 8 could display a patternor a lettering that reacts to the sound level around the presentinvention. In addition, the present invention could include a controlpanel that is electronically connected to the programmablemicrocontroller 11, which allows the user to switch between differentpatterns or letterings on the left LED matrix 7 and the right LED matrix8. The present invention also includes resistors for different purposeswithin the electronic connections between different components.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the present invention should be configured insuch a way that only certain components are positioned within thevisibility diminishing volume 17. The visibility diminishing volume 17extends normal from the left lens 5 and the right lens 6 and isdelineated by the left lens 5 and the right lens 6. The visibilitydiminishing volume 17 is also located in between the left temple 3 andthe right temple 4 when the left temple 3 and the right temple 4 areperpendicularly positioned to the lens frame 2. For the presentinvention, only the left lens 5, the right lens 6, the left LED matrix7, and the right LED matrix 8 are located in the visibility diminishingvolume 17. The programmable microcontroller 11, the micro slide switch12, the input jack 13, the portable power source 14, the VU meter 15,and the microphone 16 are positioned outside of the visibilitydiminishing volume 17 so that they do not diminish the user's visibilitywhile wearing the present invention. In addition, the programmablemicrocontroller 11, the micro slide switch 12, the input jack 13, theportable power source 14, the VU meter 15, and the microphone 16 areattached to the eyewear body 1 in some configuration that accommodatesthe size constraints of the present invention, the comfortableness ofthe present invention on the user's face, and the aesthetics of thepresent invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An eyewear with a light emitting matrix comprising: a controller; an eyewear body comprising a lens frame defining at least one lens opening; and a light emitting matrix positioned within the lens opening and comprised of an array of independently addressable light emitting sources such that each light emitting source can be turned on and off independently; wherein the controller is programmed by a user to independently turn on or off each addressable light emitting source to form a customized configuration of the light emitting matrix, and wherein the light emitting matrix is not directed towards an eye of the user when the eyewear is worn.
 2. The eyewear of claim 1 further comprising a portable power source, wherein the controller and the portable power source are mounted on the eyewear body.
 3. The eyewear of claim 1, wherein the controller is capable of independently turn on and off each addressable light emitting sources to form a plurality of possible customized configurations for the light emitting matrix.
 4. The eyewear of claim 3, wherein the controller is programmed to change the light emitting matrix from one configuration to any second configuration by independently turning on or off each addressable light emitting source.
 5. The eyewear of claim 4, wherein the lens frame comprises a left lens opening and a right lens opening, the left lens opening containing a left light emitting matrix and the right lens opening containing a right light emitting matrix; and wherein the controller is capable of changing the configuration of the left light emitting matrix and the right light emitting matrix to give an appearance of a pattern or text across both the left light emitting matrix and the right light emitting matrix.
 6. The eyewear of claim 4 further comprising: a volume unit (VU) meter electronically connected to the controller; and a microphone electronically connected to the controller; wherein the controller is capable of changing the configuration of the light emitting matrix in response to sound received by either the VU meter or microphone.
 7. The eyewear of claim 4 further comprising an external computing device in direct communication with the controller, the external computing device configured to allow the user to program the controller to change the configuration of the light emitting matrix without the use of an intermediary storage device.
 8. The eyewear of claim 7, wherein the external computing device is a smartphone, tablet device, laptop, or personal computer.
 9. An eyewear comprising: an eyewear body; a light emitting diode (LED) matrix comprising a left matrix and a right matrix; and a controller coupled to the LED matrix and capable of turning on and off individual LEDs allowing for a plurality of configurations for the LED matrix; and an external computing device in direct communication with the controller, the external computing device configured to allow a user to program the controller to turn on and off each individual LED to form a configuration of the light emitting matrix; wherein the controller is programmed by a user to change the configuration of the LED matrix to a second configuration of the LED matrix without the use of an intermediary storage device, and wherein the LED matrix is not directed towards an eye of the user when the eyewear is worn.
 10. The eyewear of claim 9 further comprising a portable power source, wherein the controller and the portable power source are mounted on the eyewear body.
 11. The eyewear of claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to change the LED matrix from one configuration to any second configuration by independently turning on or off each addressable LED.
 12. The eyewear of claim 11 further comprising: a volume unit (VU) meter electronically connected to the controller; and a microphone electronically connected to the controller; wherein the controller is capable of changing the configuration of the light emitting matrix in response to sound received by either the VU meter or microphone.
 13. The eyewear of claim 12 further comprising a left lens and a right lens; wherein the left LED matrix is coupled to the left lens and the right LED matrix is coupled to the right lens.
 14. The eyewear of claim 13, wherein the LEDs are spaced within the LED matrix to allow the user to see beyond the LED matrix when the user is wearing the eyewear.
 15. The eyewear of claim 12, wherein the controller is capable of changing the configuration of the left matrix and the right matrix to give an appearance of a pattern or text across both the left matrix and the right matrix.
 16. The eyewear of claim 9, the eyewear body comprising a lens frame defining a left lens opening and a right lens opening, the left lens opening containing the left matrix and the right lens opening containing the right LED matrix.
 17. The eyewear of claim 9, wherein the external computing device is a smartphone, tablet device, laptop, or personal computer.
 18. The eyewear of claim 9, wherein the LED matrix is a two-dimensional array of LEDs, the matrix containing at least three LEDs in each row of the matrix and at least three LEDs in each column of the matrix.
 19. An eyewear with a light emitting matrix comprising: a controller; an eyewear body comprising a lens frame defining at least one lens opening; a light emitting diode (LED) matrix comprised of an array of independently addressable LEDs such that each LED can be turned on or off independently, the LED matrix being coupled to the controller and positioned within the lens opening, the controller being capable of turning on or off each addressable LED to form a configuration of the LED matrix; a volume unit (VU) meter electronically connected to the controller; and a microphone electronically connected to the controller; wherein the controller is capable of changing the configuration of the LED matrix in response to sound received by either the VU meter or microphone, and wherein the LED matrix is not directed towards an eye of a wearer of the eyewear.
 20. The eyewear of claim 19, wherein the VU meter and the microphone are mounted to the eyewear body. 